Temporary flooring structure

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a temporary flooring structure for a bowling center, wherein the temporary flooring structure including one or more flooring elements. The temporary flooring structure has a storage position and a use position. One or more flooring elements are arranged on at least one bowling lane in said bowling center in said use position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to temporary flooring arranged to be placed on a varying or uneven surface, in particular onto a lane area of a bowling center.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than ninety countries worldwide. Thousands of bowling centers are built around the world. Bowling centers are built and decorated with elegant materials and they often offer additional services like cafes, restaurants, arcades, children's playrooms or the like for bowlers. Most typically bowling centers offer two to sixteen lanes but there are bowling centers having up to over one hundred bowling lanes. The lane width is around 42 inches i.e. around 1,06 meters, and the total lane length is around 75-80 feet i.e. around 23-24 meters. Thus, the area of one bowling lane is approximately 25 m², which means that, for example, in a four-lane bowling center the area of bowling lanes is at least 100 m². And when the area of gutters and the space between and next to the lanes is calculated, the total surface area of a four-lane bowling lane is around 160 m². In 12-lane bowling centers the same area is almost 500 m². This requires large buildings, bowling centers, that are built and maintained with high investments but without an opportunity to use that bowling lane area to any other purpose.

There are some smaller structures, e.g. a small band stand or stage, that have been introduced for temporary flooring purpose but these structures are mainly for buildings having even floor surface and they are comparably hard and heavy to use.

There is, therefore, a need for a quick, easy and light solution that releases the area of bowling lanes to other purpose than bowling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now there an improved flooring structure has been invented, by which the above problems are overcome. Various aspects of the invention include a temporary flooring structure that is characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. The term temporary flooring structure designates a flooring structure having a storage position and a use position and the flooring structure can be taken into use as a floor in the use position and moved from the use position back to the storage position.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a temporary flooring structure for a bowling center, wherein the temporary flooring structure comprising at least one flooring element and at least one beam structure has a storage position and a use position, wherein said at least one beam structure is underneath said at least one flooring element in use position, wherein said at least one beam structure comprises at least one opening for at least one part of the floor of bowling center which part is on a higher level than the level of bowling lane, and wherein said at least one flooring element is arranged on at least part of at least one bowling lane in said bowling center in said use position so that the flooring structure gets support from said at least one bowling lane.

According to an embodiment, said at least one flooring element is formed from at least two flooring element parts that are connected by a hinge so that said at least one flooring element is foldable into its storage position.

According to an embodiment a first end of said at least one flooring element is connected to a floor of said bowling center by a hinge so that in the storage position said at least one flooring element is arranged into an upright position. According to an embodiment, at least one flooring element is arranged into an upright position onto a wall of said bowling center or between two bowling lanes of said bowling center in said storage position. According to an embodiment, said at least one flooring element comprises a first board layer, a second board layer and a supporting structure layer between said first and second board layers, and wherein said beam structure is fixed underneath said second flooring board layer. According to an embodiment, said at least one flooring element comprises a first board layer, a second board layer and a supporting structure layer between said first and second board layers, and wherein said second flooring board layer is arranged onto said beam structure in said use position when said beam structure is arranged on at least a part of at least one bowling lane of said bowling center. According to an embodiment, said at least one part of the floor of bowling center which part is on a higher level than the level of bowling lane is an edge of a gutter of a bowling lane. According to an embodiment, the supporting structure layer is a board-like material comprising a wall which separates cells attached to each other wall to wall. According to an embodiment, the cross-section of the cell is shaped as a regular hexagon. According to an embodiment, the supporting structure layer is aluminium, plastic or paper. According to an embodiment, the supporting structure layer is a board-like material made of foam. According to an embodiment, at least one of the board layers is a wood-based board. According to an embodiment, at least one of the board layers is a glass fiber board, carbon fiber board, or aramid fiber board. According to an embodiment, at least one board layer is transparent or translucent. According to an embodiment, the flooring element comprises light sources that are arranged to illuminate or decorate through the transparent or translucent board layer of the flooring element. According to an embodiment, the flooring element comprises at least one pressure sensitive or touch sensitive area for detecting and/or following a touch on the flooring element. According to an embodiment, said at least one flooring element is a wall element in said storage position. According to an embodiment, said at least one flooring element further comprises at least one coat layer on or under at least one of said board layers. And according to a further embodiment, said at least one coat layer is laminate, wood, plastic membrane, tatami, wrestling mat or sliding surface. According to an embodiment, the flooring element comprises three flooring element parts connected to each other by hinges, and wherein said flooring structure has further a tunnel position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a temporary flooring structure for a bowling center according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a temporary flooring structure for a bowling center according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of a temporary flooring structure on bowling lanes according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of hinge of a flooring element according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a part of the structure of a flooring element in a cross-section A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows the structure of a cellular board in a cross-section B-B of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a temporary flooring structure for a bowling center according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following, several embodiments of the invention will be described in the context of a temporary flooring structure for bowling centers. It is to be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to temporary floorings for bowling centers. In fact, the different embodiments have applications widely in any environment where temporary floorings are suitable. For example, different kind of playing areas in addition to bowling lanes, such as mini golf lanes and the like may benefit from temporary flooring that frees the area of mini golf lanes for other purposes by temporary flooring structures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a temporary flooring structure 10 for a bowling center according to an embodiment of the invention. The temporary flooring structure 10 is arranged to be positioned directly on the floor of a bowling center, on a part of bowling center that comprises bowling lanes 11. In this context, bowling lanes 11 are a part of a floor of a bowling center. By the flooring structure 10 it is possible to use that area of the bowling center that comprises bowling lanes for other temporary use, e.g. for events and happenings which last only a fixed period of time. After events or happenings it is possible to move i.e. lift the flooring structure 10 away from the floor of the bowling center and use the bowling lanes 11 and the bowling center for their original purpose.

The temporary flooring structure 10 may comprise several flooring elements. The flooring element 12 of this embodiment is formed from two flooring element parts 13, 14 that are connected to each other by a hinge structure 15. However, it is also possible that the flooring element is formed from one part or from three or more parts. The number of hinge structures 15 connecting flooring element parts is one less than the number of the flooring element parts. The hinge structure 15 may comprise one or more hinges. The flooring element 12 is arranged to be foldably connected to a floor from one end by a floor hinge structure i.e. a hinge so that it is possible to turn the flooring element 12 onto bowling lanes 11 and off bowling lanes 11.

There may be several flooring elements 12 which are arranged next to each other in a direction of the bowling lane 11. In a storage position flooring elements 12 are folded and turned on the wall of the bowling center, when flooring element 12 are foldably connected to the floor, for example, next to the wall and in a use position flooring elements 12 are unfolded i.e. flat on the bowling lanes 11. However, if the flooring element 12 is formed from one part without the hinge structure 15, the flooring element 12 is not folded when it is arranged, i.e. turned, into the storage position.

When the flooring elements 12 of the temporary flooring structure 10 are arranged in a use position they form a continuous floor cover for the area of bowling lanes 11. However, the number of the flooring elements 12 or the area of the bowling center that is covered by the temporary flooring structure 10 is not restricted. There may be, for example, 19 flooring elements 11 with the width of 1.15 m if the aim of the temporary flooring structure 10 is to cover the length of the bowling lanes 11, where the useable length for continuous floor is about 22 meters. When the flooring elements 12 of the temporary flooring structure 10 are arranged to the use position they are turned or folded right to their own places i.e. the flooring elements 12 are not moved along bowling lanes 11 so that the surface of bowling lanes 11 could be damaged. In this embodiment, the flooring elements 12 are arranged substantially orthogonally above the bowling lanes 11. However, it is also possible that flooring elements are arranged to be parallel to the bowling lanes.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a temporary flooring structure 20 for a bowling center according to an embodiment of the invention. The temporary flooring structure 20 is formed from two opposing flooring element blocks 21, 22 both comprising several adjacent flooring elements. Flooring elements 23 of the first flooring element block 21 are turnably connected to an area of the floor between the bowling lane 26 and a wall area 25 (wall is not shown) by a floor hinge structure, and flooring elements 24 of the second flooring element block 22 are turnably connected to an area of the floor between two adjacent bowling lanes (just one bowling lane 28 is shown) 27 by a floor hinge structure. These areas 25 and 27 are not shown completely, only parts of them are shown.

In a storage position flooring elements 23 of the first flooring element block 21 are turned and folded onto the wall of the bowling center, because flooring elements 23 are turnably connected to the floor next to the wall and flooring elements 24 of the second flooring element block 22 are turned onto the space between the two adjacent bowling lanes, thus forming a separating wall between those bowling lanes.

In addition, it is also possible that one temporary flooring structure comprises one or more flooring blocks that are turnably connected next to the wall and/or one or more flooring blocks that are foldably connected between bowling lanes.

A bowling lane with all its devices is quite a complex construction, which, in addition to the lane, includes two gutters, a ball return system and a pin setting apparatus. FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of a flooring element 30 of a temporary flooring structure for a floor of a bowling center and especially for the area of bowling lanes according to an embodiment of the invention. The flooring element 30 comprises a first flooring element part 31, a second flooring element part 32 and a hinge 33 between the first flooring element part 31 and the second flooring element part 32. The flooring element 30 comprises a floor cover 34 and a beam structure 35 i.e. a support beam 35 that is fixed on the floor cover 34 so that in a use position the beam structure 35 is on the bowling lanes 39 supporting the floor cover 34 above it. There are usually at least two beam structures 35 for one flooring element 30. The beam structures may be connected near the longitudinal edges of the flooring element 30. One suitable fixing place is disclosed, for example, in FIG. 2. However, it is also possible that beam structures are not fixed to flooring elements but the floor cover is arranged to be turned on beam structures in a use position.

In the flooring elements the shape of varying surface of a floor area of a bowling center is been taken into account by forming the beam structure 35 so that there are notches i.e. openings for underlying surface, for example, devices of bowling lanes, when needed. For example, there are openings 36 for edges 37 that are a part of structures for gutters 38. Due to the openings the flooring element 30 gets support from the bowling lanes 39 and forms uniform and flat cover over the bowling lanes 39.

The gutters 38 have a shape that enables the hinge structure 301 to be located in the gutters 38 when the flooring element 30 is in the use position.

The length or width of the flooring elements or its flooring element parts is not restricted. But it should be noticed that the bigger sized element may be harder to handle and move from a one position to another. However, if there are structures or solutions assisting the changing of the positions, for example, motors for turning elements up and down, it is possible to use wider and/or longer structures. If elements are turned up and down by hand, the possible dimensions may be, for example, width around one meter and length around 7 meters. Of course, the dimensions, especially the height and the number of lanes of bowling center should be taken into account and define the dimensions of flooring elements and flooring element parts on the basis of them.

However, flooring elements comprising two flooring element parts may be a structure wherein the first flooring element part that is connected to the floor by a floor hinge structure has a length that is greater that the length of the second flooring element part. This kind of structure may be easier to handle and turn from and to the storage position. For example, for a 4-lane bowling area with a width of approximately 7 meters, the total length of flooring elements comprising two flooring element parts may also be approximately 7 meters so that the first flooring element part that is connected to the floor by the floor hinge structure has a length of approximately 4 meters and the second flooring element part has a length of approximately 3 meters.

It should also be noted that flooring elements are suitable to be positioned onto other variable floorings than bowling lanes as well, for example, onto mini golf lanes, curling lanes, artificial turf or the like.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a hinge 40 of a flooring element 41 according to an embodiment of the invention. The hinge 40 is fixed between a first flooring element part 42 and a second flooring element part 43. The hinge 40 may be any type suitable to be used for this purpose i.e. for hinging flooring element parts 42, 43. In one possible embodiment the hinge may also be a typically liftable door hinge type, if e.g. due to some emergency exit or such, one of the flooring elements is arranged to be detachable. When the flooring element 41 is in use position the hinge 40 is arranged to keep the parts 42, 43 so that they form a level that is substantially continuous i.e. minimize the gap between top levels of the parts 42, 43. There might only be a very small gap between top levels of the parts. The top level is the uppermost layer of floor cover i.e. a coat layer of flooring element 41 and thus also the coat layer of flooring element parts 42, 43. The material of the uppermost layer may be e.g. any regular floor material such as laminate, wood, plastic membrane, tatami, wrestling mat or some kind of sliding surface. It is possible to use only one hinge between parts 42, 43 or more that two hinges, for example, two, three or four. The number of hinges, as well as the number of support beams may typically depend on, for example, the size and weight of flooring element 41, usually because of the ceiling height of the building, but also the varying degree i.e. a supporting capability of the floor onto when the flooring element is going to be placed. Also in one embodiment a multi-hinged flooring element can be arranged to be used as a sports obstacle or a stage.

FIG. 5 shows a part of the flooring element 50 in a cross-section A-A of FIG. 3. The flooring element 50 comprises at least a coat layer 51, two board layers 52, a supporting structure layer 53 and a beam structure 54. The uppermost coat layer 51 may be laminate, wood, plastic membrane, tatami, wrestling mat or some kind of sliding surface material or at least substantially transparent material suitable for floor material, for example, glass fiber plate or some transparent/translucent polymer material. The board layer 52 may be a wood-based board or glass fiber, carbon fiber or aramid fiber based plate and the supporting structure layer 53 may be a honeycomb structure, foam plate or any typically lightweight cellular board. Cellular and foam structures are light-weighted structures, which substantially decreases the mass of the flooring elements. Lightness makes the usage of the flooring system easy and fast. However, two board layers 52 may be different materials, for example, the uppermost layer that is under the coat layer 51 may be, for example, glass and the other one may be wood based board.

Typically also e.g. the layers 51 and 52 may be merged or replaced with one layer comprising the needed qualities; tensile strength, impact resistance and suitable floor surface. The coat layer 51 constitutes the actual surface layer and depending on its material it is customizable for several purposes. In a case where transparent material is used as the coat layer 51, it is suitable to use e.g. light fixtures underneath or inside the element to create visual effects or e.g. markings for the recreational activities to be carried out on the floor. It is also possible to embed touch sensitive areas (resistive, capacitive, optical etc.) on the elements to again enable different recreational activities in such an “active floor”. Also, in one embodiment these light and/or touch features can be activated while the element is in storage position to enable a decorative wall element or e.g. a touch sensitive target for e.g. some form of a shooting game.

If both layers 51 and 52 are present, the coat layer 51 may be fixed on the board layer 52, the first board layer, the supporting structure layer 53 is fixed on the other side of the first board layer 52 and yet another board layer 52, the second board layer, is fixed on the other side of the supporting structure layer 53. Thus, typically for added rigidity and to prevent warping in changing temperatures and humidity, there is one board layer 52, on both sides of the supporting structure layer 53. The coat layer 51, the board layers 52 and the supporting structure layer 53 may be attached to each other by means of an adhesive medium. The adhesive medium, which is high-modulus and very durable, can be in a form of a solution, paste or film. Under the lowest board layer 52, the second board layer, there is the beam structure 54 that is typically fixed to the lowest board layer 52 by some adhesive medium, or regular fastening elements like screws. The beam structure 54 may be of any suitable rigid material like e.g. wood, aluminum, some other metal, plastic or e.g. I-beams of particle board. The material choice may also be used to create special circumstances or properties to the floor like e.g. extra bounce or vibration dampening. The beam structure 54 is the material that is arranged to lay on bowling lanes when the flooring element is turned into a use position. It is also possible to fix a felt material or corresponding under the beam structure 54 so that the felt is the material that lies on the bowling lanes instead of beam structure 54. However, it is not necessary to use felt material, because due to the supportive structure and connections to floor, the flooring element does not damage the surface of bowling lanes.

However, it is also possible to use flooring elements without the uppermost coat layer 51. In that case flooring elements are turned down into the use position and one or more covers just as mattresses or beddings are placed onto them afterwards. Also, it is possible to use different top layers or top finishes (painting, coating etc.) on different sides of the elements. This gives different looks for a floor in use position and wall element in storage position. Also, it is possible to fill the gaps between the support structures with some noise absorbing media, for example, felt, some insulation materials, foam etc. This is especially useful if the element is used as a divider between two separate sporting activities. Also, it is also possible to fix a coat layer under the second board layer 52. So the structure of flooring element may comprise none, one or two coat layers. It is also possible to use two coat layers one on the other, if needed. All used layers together form a floor cover.

According to FIG. 6, the supporting structure layer 53 is a supporting structure layer and composed of a wall 60 which separates cells 61 which are attached to each other wall to wall. The wall 60 is made of aluminium, plastic paper or basically any suitable material. The thickness of the cellular board may vary largely according to the material and especially according to the desired weight carrying capacity of the floor. Most typically thickness is between 10 and 50 mm, and the diameter of the cells 61 may also vary largely but is typically in the area of 5 to 15 mm. Standard dimensions are e.g. 6.35 mm (¼″) or 9,525 mm (⅜″). The cellular board according to this example contains cells 61 which are hexagonal, so called honeycombs. By means of the honeycomb structure it is possible to attain substantially equal strength properties irrespective of the direction. The invention however is not restricted to any specific cell form or even to an arranged matrix but can also be built on e.g. a foam core.

The lightweightness of flooring elements having cellular board with supporting structure layer enables the changing of positions of flooring elements by hand. Nevertheless, any suitable method to place flooring structures in a use position is possible, for example using ropes and pulleys or motorized lifting system. In certain special targets it is even possible to store the whole (usually smaller) flooring system (for example a limited size stage) in the ceiling and descend it down with motorized pulleys. After that it can be spread using e.g. the hinge structure. The hinge structures between parts of flooring element ease the handling of flooring elements. Additionally, the hinge structure enables the flooring element to be longer, because it can be turned to the storage position into an upright position onto a wall without the need for having a bowling center to have a ceiling height of, for example, 7 meters.

The flooring elements are suitable to be turned from the upright storage position to the use position by starting the turning down from one side of a bowling center, for example, from the end of bowling lanes comprising bowling pins and by proceeding by turning down one flooring element at a time. The turning up to upright storage position may be done by turning up the flooring elements at one flooring element at a time and by starting from the other end than where the turning down was started.

Also, it is possible to use a ceiling as a storage, in which case the flooring element is not connected to any part of a floor by a floor hinge but the flooring structures are raised up to the ceiling, for example, by ropes as disclosed above.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a temporary flooring structure for a bowling center according to an embodiment of the invention. A flooring element 70 of temporary flooring structure comprises three flooring element parts 71, 72 and 73. The first flooring element part 71 is connected to the first end of the second flooring element part 72 by at least one hinge and the third flooring element part 73 is connected to the second end of the second flooring element part 72 by at least one hinge. The flooring element 70 has three positions, an upright storage position, a horizontal use position and also a tunnel position. In FIG. 7 the flooring element 70 is in the tunnel position. In the tunnel position three parts 71, 72 and 73 forms a tunnel above the floor 74 of the bowling center as disclosed on FIG. 7. When all adjacent flooring elements in a direction of a bowling lane are in the tunnel position they 70 form a secure sport track, for example, an archery track, above the bowling lane.

The flooring elements of the temporary flooring structure according to the invention are arranged to the use position such that they are turned, folded descend down right to their own places i.e. the flooring elements are not moved along bowling lanes so that the surface of bowling lanes could be damaged. In addition, the flooring elements may be arranged substantially orthogonally above the bowling lanes or parallel to the bowling lanes.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited solely to the above-presented embodiments, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A temporary flooring structure for a bowling center, wherein the temporary flooring structure comprising at least one flooring element and at least one beam structure has a storage position and a use position, wherein said at least one beam structure is underneath said at least one flooring element in use position, wherein said at least one beam structure comprises at least one opening for at least one part of the floor of bowling center which part is on a higher level than the level of bowling lane, and wherein said at least one flooring element is arranged on at least part of at least one bowling lane in said bowling center in said use position so that the flooring structure gets support from said at least one bowling lane.
 2. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flooring element is formed from at least two flooring element parts that are connected by a hinge so that said at least one flooring element is foldable into its storage position.
 3. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein a first end of said at least one flooring element is connected to a floor of said bowling center by a hinge so that in the storage position said at least one flooring element is arranged into an upright position.
 4. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 3, wherein said at least one flooring element is arranged into an upright position onto a wall of said bowling center or between two bowling lanes of said bowling center in said storage position.
 5. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flooring element comprises a first board layer, a second board layer and a supporting structure layer between said first and second board layers, and wherein said beam structure is fixed underneath said second flooring board layer.
 6. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flooring element comprises a first board layer, a second board layer and a supporting structure layer between said first and second board layers, and wherein said second flooring board layer is arranged onto said beam structure in said use position when said beam structure is arranged on at least a part of at least one bowling lane of said bowling center.
 7. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one part of the floor of bowling center which part is on a higher level than the level of bowling lane is an edge of a gutter of a bowling lane.
 8. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 5, wherein the supporting structure layer is a board-like material comprising a wall which separates cells attached to each other wall to wall.
 9. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 8, wherein the cross-section of the cell is shaped as a regular hexagon.
 10. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 8, wherein the supporting structure layer is aluminium, plastic or paper.
 11. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 5, wherein the supporting structure layer is a board-like material made of foam.
 12. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the board layers is a wood-based board.
 13. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the board layers is a glass fiber board, carbon fiber board, or aramid fiber board.
 14. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 5, wherein at least one of board layers is transparent or translucent.
 15. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 14, wherein the flooring element comprises light sources that are arranged to illuminate or decorate through the transparent or translucent board layer of the flooring element.
 16. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein the flooring element comprises at least one pressure sensitive or touch sensitive area for detecting and/or following a touch on the flooring element.
 17. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flooring element is a wall element in said storage position.
 18. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 1, wherein said flooring element comprises three flooring element parts connected to each other by hinges, and wherein said flooring structure has further a tunnel position.
 19. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 5, wherein said at least one flooring element further comprises at least one coat layer on top of said first board layer and/or under the said second board layer.
 20. A temporary flooring structure according to claim 19, wherein said at least one coat layer is laminate, wood, plastic membrane, tatami, wrestling mat or sliding surface. 